Method of delivering superimposed folded sheets as prepared books



April 29, 1969 J. v. CARSTENS 3,441,2 METHOD OF DELIVERING SUPERIMPOSEDFOLDED SHEETS A'S PREPARED BOOKS .Original Filed Jan. 28, 1963 Sheetof-4 FIG.2 D A E B F C G M: 11-11 n-n um INVENTOR \bryen 1 airs 7E7ATTORNEXQS April 29, 1969 J. v. CARSTENS 3,441,267

METHOD OF DELIVERING SUPERIMPOSED FOLDED SHEETS AS PREPARED BOOKSCriginal Filed Jan. 28, 1963 Sheet 2 or;

v ZNVENTOR Marya KZ47$73 7$ M QYW ATTORNEYS April 29, 19

Origihal Filed Jan. 28, 1963 METHOD OF DEL I R q x F I l l I I l I l I lI I I I I l I I I J. v; CARSTENS 3,441,267 VERING SUPERIMPOSED FOLDEDSHEETS AS PREPARED BOOKS Sheet of 4 I I I I I l l I I I I l I I I I I Il I I I I l I I I I I I I I I INVENTOR ATTORNEYS ME'MM W244 p i 29,1959v J. v. CARSTENS 3, 6

' METHOD OF DELIVERING SUPERIMPOSED FOLDED SHEETS I A5 PREPARED BOOKSOriginal Filed Jan. 28, 1963 Sheet 4 of 4 fllllllllllll" llllllllllINVENTOR ffh flarsz e 775 ATTORNEYS United States Patent US. Cl. 270-4517 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention relates to theassembling of the pages of books in proper sequential order prior totheir being bound together, wherein a group of successive pages isprinted on a large sheet of paper called a signature, said signaturebeing folded in a manner whereby the respective pages are arrangedparallelly overlying each other in proper succession, the foldedsignature then being deposited onto a collating conveyor. According tothis invention, a plurality of such signatures, each one having printedthereon a different group of pages, are folded and advanced to saidcollating conveyor in time-delayed sequence relative to one anotherwhereby the respective signatures are deposited on top of one anotheronto the main conveyor to form a complete book of a plurality ofcollated signatures.

This application is a continuation of my prior application for U.S.Letters Patent Ser. No. 254,238 filed Jan. 28, 1963, now abandoned, andentitled: Method of Delivering Superimposed Sheets as Prepared Books andMachine for Use in Performing the Method.

This invention relates to a method of delivering superimposed sheets asprepared books. The term book is here used in the broadest sense of theword and, consequently, also comprises brochures, folders, andpamphlets, and the like units made of folded sheets, which may becompiled by being laid on top of, or sandwiched between, each other. Theterm a prepared book means printed sheets assembled according tosignatures in the proper numerical page order and, consequently, readyfor being assembled in some appropriate manner, for example, by bindingor by means of sewing thread or stitching wire.

Methods and machines are known where a paper web is printed, folded, cutand collated in a continuous operation. These machines are veryexpensive and can only be used for certain jobs. This invention is notconcerned with such special machines and methods. On the contrary, it isan object of the present invention to improve the methods which aretoday used for solving the multifarious tasks with which this industryis commissioned, and which are solved by a combination of methods whichinclude such operations as folding, cutting, opening, picking-up,collating etc.

The working cycle which is employed from the moment when the printedsheets are available for working until a prepared book issues from themachine is, by a frequently applied technique, as follows: The printedsheets are one by one fed to one or more folding machines which performthe folding and deliver stacks of folded sheets which are subsequentlybundled and stored until a stock of the dif ferent folded sheets isprovided for use in the production of a volume of books. Each stack ofthe stock contains only sheets of the same signature. If, for example,each sheet comprises 16 pages, the first stack contains only sheetsbearing the page numbers 1-16, the next stack of sheets page numbers17-32 etc. When the books are to be picked up and collated, theoperators bring supply stacks of the various folded sheets up to thepicking-up or collat- "ice ing machine which is put into operation andwhich. gradually as the sheets are taken from the supply stacks, are fedwith fresh stacks of folded sheets taken from the storage. The collatingmay be effected manually or by means of gripping members whichsimultaneously grip a sheet from each supply stack and feed them to theassembling conveyor. When such collating machine is put into operation,the first set of books less one will be incomplete.

An object of the present invention is to simplify this method whichcommences at the inlet of the sheet folding machine and terminates bythe delivery of the collated books to be further worked, for example, bysewing, stitching, or binding.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a flexible machinerywhich may be readily adapted for solving the many tasks of differentnature which may be given.

The invention is based both on the recognition that the heretofore usedmethods in the working of flat sheets have either required expensivespecial machines or have necessitated troublesome transportations andspace-consuming storages, and on the recognition that it is possible bymaking a quite simple modification in the known methods, to avoidbundling, storage and transportation to and from supplies and to createthe possibility of working, by means of only slightly modified standardmachinery, flat sheets for the most different purposes, and, at anytime, with a minimal force of machinery.

The characteristic feature of the invention is that the flat sheets frompiles of sheets are parallel folded completely one at a time to formdouble, triple or multiple shee s, and that the said completely foldedsheets are without intermediate stacking transferred directly sheet bysheet unto a main conveyor mechanism where they are assembled to formbooks.

The method according to the invention comprises a number of variationswhich may be used in dependence on the job to be performed. By way ofexample, it should be noted that a folded sheet may be cut into one ormore sheet units prior to its being transferred to the main conveyormechanism on which the assembling of sheet units takes place. Moreover,the sheet units may be placed astride on the main conveyor mechanism orin a plane position. In the former case the folded sheets are opened somuch that they can easily be placed astride on the main conveyormechanism.

The method according to the invention moreover provides the possibilityof producing different books in one and the same mechinery and thus abetter utilisation of the capacity of the machinery. In the productionof books of paper having a gramme weight exceeding a certain value, ithas heretofore been necessary to submit to the drawback that the sheetsmay easily adopt an irregular position when they have been folded morethan a certain number of times. This drawback may be overcome by themethod according to the invention in that the number of folds may bereduced. It is of importance especially in threadless bin-ding that theindividual folded sheets do not contain too many pages.

The plane printed sheets which constitute the initial elements for thetreatment by the method according to the invention, must be so printedthat the pages will be arranged in the proper numerical order when thesheet units belonging to one group of signatures cut from one and thesame printed sheet are laid on top of each other. Where, for example,the initial element is a sheet which comprises 32 pages and which is tobe parallel-folded, the first group unit must contain pages 1-8, thesecond pages 9-16, the third pages 17-24 and the last pages 25-32. Inthis case the plane sheet is folded twice and c-ut into four sheetunits. Within the scope of this invention the number of folds in thesheet and the number of sheet units can be varied according to purpose.

Further the invention relates to a machine for performing said methodcomprising one or more sheet folding machines, one or more secondaryconveyors and a main conveyor on which the completely folded sheets areassembled to form books. Controlling means controls the timing of thedelivery of the completely folded sheets on to the main conveyor. Thenumber of sheet folding machines is dependent on the job to beperformed, and the machine may be so arranged that sheet folding machineunits and other equipment may be connected or disconnected in compliancewith requirements. The sheet folding machines may be of the type knownper se for making parallel-folds or cross-folds, and a machine accordingto the invention may include sheet folding machines or either type.

One embodiment of a machine according to the invention comprises onlyone single sheet folding machine delivering parallel folded sheets thatare cut into a number of juxtaposed sheet signature units.

The main conveyor mechanism may be of any ap-- propriate type, forexample, a belt comprising, if required, catchers of any applicable formor a saddle conveyor such as a V-belt, which, if required, may likewisebe provided with catchers. The first-mentioned main conveyor mechanismmay be used for assembling the folded sheet signatures which in theplane state are laid on top of each other while the last-mentionedembodiment may be used for assembling sheet signatures arrangedinterjacent astride the conveyor.

The means for controlling the folding machines and for the secondaryconveyor in dependence on the travel of the main conveyor mechanism maybe of any appropriate kind. The first folding machine may be coupled tothe main conveyor mechanism while the successive folding machines may becontrolled by means of feelers, for example, a light source and aphoto-cell activated by a group of sheets compiled on the main conveyormechanism.

The machine according to the invention comprises two control functionswhich ensure the assembling of the sheet units on the conveyormechanism. The first function is the one ensuring that a group of sheetunits cut from one and the same folded sheet arrive at such proper timeat the main conveyor mechanism as to be assembled there. To this end,the machine comprises means for controlling the delivery of thedifferent sheet units, which means includes a secondary conveyor forconveying mutually differently the various sheet units so that saidsheet units will, consequently, be assembled into books on the mainconveyor mechanism. The other function is the previously mentionedcontrol which causes a group of sheet units already present on the mainconveyor mechanism to actuate the subsequent folding machine to delivera fresh group of sheet units.

The main conveyor mechanism moves continuously and preferably withadjustable velocity transversely to the direction of feed of a group ofsheet units'from a folding machine. In a machine according to theinvention care is taken to ensure that the sheet unit first picked up bythe main conveyor mechanism moves to the place where the subsequentsheet unit is picked up, whereupon the two sheet units thus assembled orcollated move to the place where the next-following sheet unit is pickedup etc. The mutual time delay required in the delivery of the sheetunits leaving one or more of the sheet folding machines simultaneouslymay be obtained in many different ways, for example, by the sheet unitsbeing carried by secondary conveyor means having feeding mechanismstravelling at different speeds. However, the secondary conveyor meansmay also convey at constant speed but in diverging directions. Thedirections may, however, also be parallel in which case the relativemovement of the various sheet units may be delayed by means of stopwhich is removed at different times so that after the releasing of thefirst sheet unit a certain time lapses before the second unit isreleased, etc. In the case of a secondary conveyor including an openingdevice the time delay is preferably obtained by this device while thefirst part of the secondary conveyor delivers the completely foldedsheets to trays at the input side of the opening device.

If the main conveyor mechanism is of the kind feeding the folded sheetunits in a riding position, said mechanism being, for example, a chainor a V-belt, there is expediently between the folding machine and themain conveyor mechanism provided a secondary conveyor comprising anopening mechanism which opens the folded sheets so much that they can bedelivered in a riding position to the main conveyor mechanism. Theopening mechanism may comprise one or more rotatable suction cupsengaging the sheet units brought over and above the main conveyormechanism by the secondary conveyor. By the engagement with the suctioncups a sheet will operate as a valve, and interrupt, when closing thesuction opening, the admission of false air flowing into the suction cupprior to the arrival of the sheet. This has the effect that a cylinderwith piston is put under vacuum and by movement of the piston turns thesuction cup so that the folded sheet is opened. At the termination ofthe turning, a valve is changed over by means of a snap valve switch insuch manner that suction air is now admitted to neighbouring suctioncups which are to open the next-following sheet unit, so that theprocess may be repeated in that the valve which effects the switchingover is this time moved in the opposite direction.

Moreover, the invention relates to a folding machine for use in amachine as here dealt with, and this folding machine is characterised inthat it comprises knives for cutting a folded sheet into a number ofjuxtaposed sheet units, and a feeding device for advancing mutuallydifferently neighboring sheets of a group originating from a cut foldedsheet so that at the discharge end of the feeding device they aredelivered at mutually different times. This folding machine may beprovided with a conventional outlet for folded sheets so that themachine may be used in the conventional manner.

The invention will in the following be explained in detail withreference to the accompanying purely diagrammatical drawing where FIGS.1-3 illustrate the principle of the invention by means of differentembodiments,

FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate the function of the opening device for openingthe folded sheet units so that they can be placed in a riding positionon a main conveyor mechanism, FIG. 4 being a side elevation of themachine, and FIG. 5 being a top view of the same machine,

FIG. 6 shows a machine according to the invention comprising a number ofsheet folding machines and a main conveyor mechanism,

FIG. 7 is part of a machine according to the invention comprising twobuckle folding machines, a conveyor mechanism, and feeding devicesbetween the folding machines and the conveyor mechanisms,

FIGS. 8 and 9 are arrangements for ensuring the assembling in the propernumerical page order of simultaneously picked up groups of sheet units,

FIG. 10 is a bottom-view of an opening mechanism for opening foldedsheets to be arranged in a riding position on the conveyor mechanism,and

FIG. 11 is a side elevation of the opening mechanism shown in FIG. 10,viewed in the longitudinal direction of the conveyor mechanism.

In FIG. 1, 1 and 2 are supplies of printed sheets to be introduced intotwo folding machines 3 and 4. The number of folding machines may bechosen in accordance with requirements.

In the method according to the invention, the folded sheets are, besidesbeing completely folded in the machines 3 and 4, cut such as it isindicated in FIG. 2, which shows the still coherent folded sheetcontaining the book pages 1-16; 17-32; 33-48; and 49-64, respectively.The cutting is effected immediately after the folding along the threedotted lines A, B and C, and the resulting four folded sheet units D, E,F and G each comprising 16 pages are by means of a feeding device, alsodenoted a secondary conveyor, advanced in diverging directions asindicated by arrows H, I, I and K, so that they are brought unto anotherconveyor mechanism, e.g., a conveyor belt 5, see FIG. 1, which travelsin the direction of the arrow L in FIG. 1. This latter conveyor on whichthe signatures are collated is denoted the main conveyor or collatingstation.

The movement of the conveyor belt 5 controls the delivery of the cutfolded sheet units from the machines 3 and 4 for instance by means ofmechanical or electrical means, so that a group of sheets, for example,D, E, F, G present on the conveyor belt has just been advanced one unitwhen the next following group is fed to the conveyor belt. It will beseen that on the top of a sheet D there will gradually be stacked sheetsE, F, G etc., so that a complete prepared book will issue at the end ofthe conveyor belt. If the book has 128 pages the machine 4 delivers thepages 65-80; 8196; 97-112 and 113128 on top of the stacks of 64 pagespassing by.

It will be seen that by this method it will not be necessary to bundleand store the folded sheets delivered by sheet folding machines prior tothe commencement of a picking-up process in that the folded sheets ofdifferent signatures are immediately after folding fed to the mainconveyor mechanism to be collated. It is characteristic that in theexample shown each sheet folding machine delivers sheets of differentkinds or signatures in a suitable number. A buckle folding machine whichis preferred in this case fold the sheets in a number of parallel folds.Parallel folding machines are known to the man skilled in the art andneed not be described here. However it should be pointed out that bucklefolding machines can work fast but they are bound to work sheets.

Existing parallel folding machines can through minor modifications andby being provided with an auxiliary device which performs the cuttingand mutually different feed of the cut sheets, be adapted for use inconnection with the method according to the present invention.

By the method according to the invention it is possible to adapt themachines for widely different jobs, in that a folding machine may easilyby adjusted to issue two, three or more sheet units formed by cutting.Furthermore, it is possible to print pages of different books on one andthe same sheet if only it is done in such a manner that such differentpages are separated by the cutting operation.

The spreading of the sheets of a group may be effected in differentways, for example, by delayed delivering of the units of a group onto aconveyor belt, by mutually different lengths of the feeding paths forthe different units etc. Diverging paths are consequently not definitelyrequired.

The buckle folding machines 3, 4 etc. need not be arranged at mutuallydefinite distances because the delivering of the groups can becontrolled by the groups themselves. The machine is, therefore, notbound to operate at a definite invariable rhythm. A controlling like theone here mentioned is intimated diagrammatically in FIG. 1 by means of aphotocell 6 which through a line 7 is connected with the folding machine4 in such manner that the folding machine in a manner known per se isactuated when a pulse is received through the line 7 and, consequently,initiates the folding of a sheet which in the folded state is by meansof a secondary conveyor, not shown, advanced towards the main conveyormechanism 5. The pulse from the photo-cell is generated when the stack,which on the conveyor belt is designated by G and which consists of foursuperimposed folded sheet units G, F, E and D, cuts a light ray from asource, not shown, to the photo-cell 6. It will be directly seen that bythis controlling the folding machines 3 and 4 can be placed mutually atany dis tance. The said control which is here shown as a photocellcontrol, may be effected in any other suitable manner, electrically,mechanically or pneumatically.

FIG. 3 shows an example corresponding to that shown in FIG. 2, butshowing only a single folding machine 40 and a conveyor mechanism 41,for example, a V-belt on which the folded sheets are collated ridingastride the V-belt in interjacent positions. In the figure it isintimated that a sheet unit 42 which is advanced by a seccondary feedingdevice, not shown, is on its way to a position over and above the stackof interjacent sheets 43 and 44 already placed on the main conveyormechanism, in which position the sheet 42 is gripped by a suction deviceopening the folded sheet and placing it astride on top of the sheet 43.The suction device will be explained in detail below with reference toFIGS. 10 and 11. The other sheet unit 45 belonging to the group of sheetunits 42 and 45 which have been delivered by the folding machine 40 isadvanced with delay, e.g., in the manner to be explained in conjunctionwith FIG. 7, and is laid on top of the sheet unit 42.

A line 46 and a micro switch 47 diagrammatically indicate the controlmeans by which the folding machine i made operative for delivering thesheet units 42 and 45. The micro switch 47 has in the example shown beenactuated by the passage of the sheet stack consisting of the foldedsheets 43 and 44 which by the main conveyor mechanism 41 is moved in thedirection of the arrow 48.

In the example shown in FIG. 3 there are two sheet units 42 and 45 in agroup, but the group may comprise any number of sheet units, and likewise any number of folding machines 40 may be employed. Moreover, theequipment may comprise a supply device for covers of a more rigidmaterial, which is ultimately advanced and placed astride on top of thestack of collated folded sheets on the main conveyor mechanism.

With a view to further illustrating the explanation given in conjunctionwith FIG. 3, FIGS. 4 and 5 show diagrammatically a buckle foldingmachine comprising a sheet stack 51 and a suction roller 52 which, whenmade operative, feeds a sheet to the folding unit which comprisesrollers 53, 54, 55 and 56 and folding pockets 57 and 58. Such foldingunit is known per se and requires, consequently, no further explanation.The buckle folded sheets are cut into identically folded sheet units 59and 60 which in a manner previously described, cf. moreover thefollowing description of FIG. 7, are advanced to the entrance orreceiving tray of an opening device forming part of a secondary conveyorand which is shown as a cylinder 61 having suction cups 62 and 63 whichare so mechanically interconnected that the suction cup 63 movesanticlockwise when the suction cup 62 moves clockwise, and conversely.When the sheet is sucked fast thereagainst, and the suction cupcommences its clockwise movement and consequently moves the sheet 59downwards so that the latter is placed astride on top of the sheets 64and 65 already present on the main conveyor mechanism 66. It should bementioned that the opening device can be used as a simple conveyor e.g.,by feeding the sheet with the fold as the leading edge. Thus the sheetscan by the same device he placed in flat position on a band conveyor.This shows the flexibility of the arrangement.

The sheet 60 which has been advanced with delay in relation to the sheet69, moves from the full-line position shown in FIG. 5 to the dotted-lineposition while the main conveyor mechanism 66 with the stack consistingof sheets 65, 64, and 59 proceeds continuously, so that the sheet stacks65, 64, 59 register with the sheet 60 when said latte-r sheet 60 isdelivered to the main conveyor mechanism by the suction device. Thesheet 60 is opened by the suction cup 63 which, when the suction cup 62turned the sheet 59 downwardly over the conveyor mechanism, turned inthe opposite direction so as to take up a stand-by position for thereception of the sheet 60. On the basis of FIGS. 10 and 11 it will lateron be explained how the opening device with the suction cups isarranged.

In the example of a machine according to the invention illustrated inFIG. 6, there are a number of folding machines 71, 72, and 73. Thefolding machines may be of any type known per se such as they arecommercially available they shall, therefore, not be described indetail. The principle of a knife-folding machine should be brieflymentioned, but it is emphasized that the invention is not limited to theemployment of a folding machine of this type. The folding machines maybe of the same type or of different types. In the interest of simplicityit is assumed that the machines as used in this example are alike.

Transversely of the direction in which the folding machines 71, 72 and73 issue the folded sheets, provision is made for a main conveyormechanism or assembling conveyor 74, which is common to all foldingmachines. The term assembling conveyor indicates that on this conveyorthe assembling or collating of the folded sheets from the differentmachines takes place, the assembled sheets being compiled to formprepared books. The assembling conveyor may be of any appropriate kind.It may, for example, be a conveyor belt or, as indicated by theembodiment shown in the drawing, a stationary table arranged along thefolding machines, which table is at its middle provided with alongitudinal slit 76 in which catchers 77, e.g., in the form of pins,are displaceable. The catchers may be provided on a band 79 or chainwhich is moved along a closed path by a motor M, preferably avariable-speed motor. The surface of the table on which the sheets aresupported during the feeding, is at an angle to the horizontal plane sothat the sheets will with one edge engage a stop 78. The sheets arehereby prevented from tipping during the feeding as a consequence of thecatchers 77 not engaging the middle of the side edge of the sheet.

In the folding machine 71 is a supply stack 80 of plane printed sheetsto be folded. A suction roller 81 feeds the sheets one by one from thesupply stack 80 to a first pair of rollers 82, from which a sheet ispassed on until it is stopped against a stop 83. By actuation by a knife84 the sheet is folded through a pair of rollers 85 and is passed on tothe next pair of rollers 86, the timing of the insertion between therollers being determined by the movement of a folding knife 87. Sincethe functions as described are known from the conventional foldingmachines, a more detailed description thereof is not required here. Theready-rolled sheets leaving the rollers 83 may either be passed directlyon to hte assembling main conveyor 74 or may be stopped in the positionindicated by 88 by means of a stop 89. The feeding of the folded sheetsto the assembling conveyor may be effected by means of a conveyor belt,see FIG. 7.

In the known folding machines, the different steps of folding areeffected automatically and in timed relationship. By the machineaccording to the invention, the function of the folding unit iscontrolled in dependence on the main conveyor mechanism or by the sheetor sheets advanced thereon. This is diagrammatically indicated in FIG. 6by a micro switch 90, the feeling member of which protrudes into thepath of the catchers 77, and which controls different functions in thefolding unit. If there is a stop 89, the micro switch is used forreleasing the sheet 88 by the stop 89 being, for example pneumatically,withdrawn from the path of the sheet 88, which, for example, may besupported on a continuously moving conveyor belt which, as soon as thestop 89 is removed, by friction brings the sheet along and passes it onto the main conveyor mechanism 74. The same pulse which controls thestop 89 may be used for controlling the folding knives 84 and 87 and thesuction feeder 81, such as it is diagrammatically shown by lines 91, 92and 93. The pulses expediently control electromagnetically operatedcouplings which when engaged transfer power, for example from acontinuously rotating shaft, to the different steps of the foldingdevices and the suction feeder.

Instead of electric controlling means, mechanical or pneumaticalcontrolling means may be employed.

Provided that the folding units 71, 72, 73 etc. are correctly placed inrelation to each other and to the assembling conveyor 74, one couldsuggest the use of a single micro switch 90 for controlling all foldingunits. In adjusting the machine for other sizes or jobs of a naturedifferent from those preformed with the machine under thesecircumstances, difficulties are, however, encountered. Thesedifficulties can be overcome by introducing appropriate time delays inrespect of the pulses applied to the different folding devices. However,according to the invention it is preferable to use a control device foreach folding unit so that restriction to a definite distance between thecatchers 77 is avoided. An adjustment of the speed of the main conveyormechanism 74 will in the stated construction automatically involve theadjustment of the speed at which the folding units feed folded sheets tothe main conveyor mechanism. By making the function of a given controlmember, except for the first one, dependent on the preceding controlmember having been operative, it is ensured that all collated books arecomplete.

Even if the described embodiment employs micro switches, it is evidentto a person skilled in the field of the invention that the controldevice may use any feeler of mechanical or electrical nature, forexample, a photocell and associated light source. Further the sheetsproper advanced by the main conveyor mechanism may be caused to actuatethe feeler so that a restriction to fixed mutual distances between thestacks of folded sheets on the feeding device is avoided.

As an example of mechanical control means, can be mentioned a common camshaft having adjustable cams, one for each folding unit. Each cam isadjusted to transfer a starting pulse to the folding unit concerned atthe proper time. The cam shaft is connected with the driving mechanismfor the main conveyor mechanism 74 so that the speed of the mainconveyor mechanism determines the speed at which the individual foldingunit operates.

By the controlling of the folding units, indicated by the embodimentshown in FIG. 6, it is ensured that a sheet has taken up a stand-byposition at each step of the folding operation, so that it is notnecessary to wait for the travel of a sheet quite up from the stack 80and to the position 88 each time a control pulse occurs. Consequently,the working speed is first and foremost determined by the speed at whicha folded sheet is carried from the pair of rollers 86 and onto the mainconveyor mechanism 74 or only the time the folded sheet takes to travelfrom the position 88 and onto the conveyor mechanism 74. In the case ofcross-folding, the sheet issuing from the folding unit is generally notbeing cut as in the case of parallel-folding, and consequently nodifficulty is encountered in ensuring the compiling in proper numericalorder of the pages coming from the individual folding units. Compilingin proper numerical order of the sheets coming from the differentfolding units is ensured by the design of the machine. In the case ofparallel-folding, the individual flat sheets are cut into two, three ormore parts to be compiled on top of each other or inside each other onthe conveyor mechanism. According to the invention, provision istherefore made for an auxiliary device for ensuring the desiredcompilation of the pages in proper numerical order. FIG. 7 shows purelydiagrammatically an embodiment of such auxiliary device.

In FIG. 7, a folding unit 71 delivers parallel-folded sheets cut intofour separate sheet units 95, 96, 97 and 98 to the main conveyormechanism 74. When leaving the folding device the sheet units arejuxtaposed but since the said four units are first brought on to asecondary conveyor or feeding device which is divided into four parallelsections each operating at different speeds, the advance of the sheetunit 96 is delayed in relation to the sheet unit 95, and that of thesheet unit 97 in relation to the sheet unit 96, and that of the sheetunit 98 in relation to the sheet unit 97 to the main conveyor mechanismso much that the sheet units, when delivered to the main conveyormechanism, are assembled thereon. Minor irregularities in the assemblingare corrected by the catcher 77.

In the example illustrated in FIG. 7 the secondary conveyor devicefeeding the sheet units to the main conveyor mechanism 74 comprises fourpairs of conveyor belts, two for each sheet unit. Each conveyor belt 99passes over three rollers, of which only two, 100 and 101, are shown inthe drawing. The roller 101 is an idle roller whereas the roller 100 isa driving roller which by a common shaft 102 is connected with a drivingroller 103 which via a V-belt is driven from a motor in the folding unit71, preferably the motor driving the individual parts of the foldingunit. The shaft 102 drives the main conveyor mechanism 74 via a gearmechanism 105. The main conveyor mechanism 74 may, however, also have adriving unit of its own, as in such case care should only be taken toensure the required synchronism between the speeds of the main conveyormechanism and the conveyor belts 99. The differences in speed of thevarious pairs of belts are provided by using rollers of differentdiameters. By using an engageable and disengageable gear mechanism, thesecondary conveyor may be changed over readily from work with parallelfolding to work with cross-folding and vice versa. The measure as shownin FIG. 7 affords the advantage that the distance between the catchers77 need not be as great as the total width of the sheet units 95, 96, 97and 98.

FIGS. 8 and 9 show another possibility of assembling juxtaposed sheetunits in the proper numerical page order. Above the main conveyormechanism 74 and opposite each of the folding units, is arranged astepped table which in the case shown comprises four bipartite inclinedreceiving surfaces 130, 131, 132 and 133, on which the four sheet unitsoriginating from the same folded sheet are delivered in side-by-siderelationship. A catcher 77 which is secured to the main conveyor belt 74brings the four sheet units together in the proper numerical page orderduring the travel of the main conveyor mechanism 74, on top of a bookpart 134 assembled in a previous stage and advanced by the main conveyormechanism 74- when said book part reaches the end of the stepped table.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 9, the sheet units are compiled one byone on the subjacent book part in the sequence 133, 132, 131, 130 inthat the conveyor belt 74 moves in a direction opposite to that of theconveyor belt 74 of FIG. 8.

FIGS. and 11 illustrate an arrangement to be included in the secondaryconveyor if the sheet units are to be placed astride and interjacent ona main conveyor. The main conveyor is a V-belt 140 shown in crosssection in FIG. 11 and traveling along a closed path between twopulleys, not shown, located in a vertical plane. The main conveyor 140is located at the end of a feeding mechanism, e.g., like the one shownin FIG. 7, comprising conveyor belts 99 which advance sheet units 141 ina direction perpendicular to the main conveyor 140 and deliver themabove the main conveyor 140 so that they move downwardly in thedirection of said main conveyor by gravity. As the sheets are folded,they will have to be opened so much that they can be placed astride onthe main conveyor, and to this end provision is made for an opening unitcomprising two sets of suction cups 142 and 143, which are so connectedthrough gears that the suction cups 143 will turn upwardly when thesuction cups 142 turn downwardly. When the suction cups are in topposition 142, suction air is admitted to them while the suction airinlet is closed when the suction cups are in the lower position 143. Thesuction cups operate as valves so that the opening unit will becomeoperative when a folded sheet engages a suction cup and, consequently,closes the opening thereof.

In the example shown, the opening unit can be turned around a hinge 144at the end of the bed of the feeding mechanism 145. The suction cups 142and 143 are mounted on two rotatable members 146 and 147 respectivelysaid members being interconnected by means of gear wheels so as torotate in mutually opposite directions under the influence of a pistonrod 148 of a piston, not shown, in a vacuum cylinder 149, to whichvacuum can be connected above as well as below the piston. The mechanismis adapted for autoreversion of the vacuum supply by means of a pull rod150 and a snap reversing device 151 which is actuated by spring 152secured at one end to a fixed point 153 and at the other end to a point154 of the snap reversing device and so positioned that a turning ofsaid device around the centre of rotation 155 first stretches the springuntil its axis has passed the centre 155 and thereafter contracts again.As the Spring is a tension spring the reversing device has,consequently, two resting positions.

The snap reversing device .151 actuates a reversing valve 156 to whichvacuum is supplied through a pipe 157 and from which two pipes 158 and159 extent to one and the other end, respectively, of the vacuumcylinder 149, and two pipes of which only one, .160, is shown in FIG.11, which supplies vacuum to one or the other, respectively, of the twopairs of suction cups 142 and 143. In the interest of perspecuity, theconnecting pipes are not shown in FIG. 10.

In the position shown in FIG. -11 vacuum sis upplied to the suction cups142, and the piston of the cylinder 149 is at its top position. When asheet engages the suction cups 142, the sheet is sucked fast and closesthe inlet of false air through the suction cups so that the vacuum willbe capable of moving the piston in the cylinder 14 9 towards the bottomthereof. This has the effect that the piston rod 148 moves into thecylinder 149. The piston rod 148 is rotatably connected with a leverwhich at the other end is rotatable on a fixed axis 162. The lever 1611is by means of a link 1 63 connected with the rotatable member .146.

The entire unit as described can by releasing a finger screw 164- beswung On an axis .165 into a position, where the unit will notconstitute a bar to performing other jobs with the machine, e.g., whenusing a feeding device different from the one shown.

The opening unit need not be of the construction as here described.Instead of the suction cups it will, for example, be possible to usesuction cylinders in which the reversing valve is built-in.

On the whole, the invention is not restricted to the constructions ashere shown. It is within the scope of the invention to vary theconstructions if only the principal idea of the invention is maintained,namely, that the flat sheets are directly, subsequent to the foldingoperation, assembled to form a book.

What I claim is:

1. A method for collating in superimposed relationship a plurality offolded sheet signatures to form a prepared book read for binding,comprising the steps of (a) completely folding a series of mutuallydifferent signatures;

(b) depositing the folded signatures onto a conveyor means which in turnadvances the completely folded signatures of a series separately fromeach other along respective substantially parallel paths adjacent eachother towards a continuously moving collating 1 l conveyor, therespective signatures of one and the same series being advanced insuccessive time-delayed sequence relative to one another whereby theyarrive at the collating conveyor successively at respectivelongitudinally spaced apart points along the path of travel thereof;

(c) successively depositing each signature of a series onto thecollating conveyor and advancing the conveyor transversely to thedirection in which the signatures are advanced along said paths thereofwhereby each succeeding signature is deposited onto a precedingsignature of the same series which has previously been deposited ontosaid collating conveyor;

(d) correlating said depositing of the signatures in timedelayedsequence to the movement of the conveyor independently of the timing andcompletion of any commenced folding action.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the series of signatures are cut froma single flat sheet, and including the steps of (e) feeding a fiat sheetfrom a single pile of such sheets to a folding machine;

(f) folding and cutting said sheet so as to form a series of completelyfolded signatures;

(g) proceeding according to steps (b) to (d) in claim 1 whereby theseries of signatures cut from a single sheet are deposited one on top ofthe other on said collating conveyor.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the series of signatures are cut froma plurality of flat sheets, and including the steps of:

(e) feeding a flat sheet from each of separate piles of such sheets torespective folding machines;

(f) folding said sheets in each folding machine to form respectivecompletely folded series of signatures;

(g) proceeding according to steps (b) to (d) in claim 1 whereby therespective series of signatures formed from respective different sheetsare deposited one on top of the other on said collating conveyor.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said signatures are buckle folded.

5. A method for delivering a series of folded sheet signatures from afolding means to a collating station, wherein the signatures of a seriesare different from each other and are to be collated in superimposedsequential relationship, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) completely folding the series of different signatures in a foldingmeans therefor;

(b) advancing the series of completely folded signatures from thefolding means towards a continuously moving collating station;

(c) discharging the signatures of one and the same series onto saidcollating station successively one after the other and in superimposedrelation one on top of the other, said discharging being independent ofthe folding but correlated to the advance of the signatures along saidcollating station.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein step (b) is carried out with thesignatures of each series being advanced in delayed-time sequencerelative to one another whereby they arrive at said collating stationsuccessively, one after the other.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein step (b) is carried out with all thesignatures of a series being advanced simultaneously each one along arespective one of a plurality of different paths, the signatures beingdischarged onto said collating station at respective points spaced apartfrom each other along the extent of said collating station, saidsignatures being advanced from one of said points to the other along theextent of said collating station at a speed such that each successivesignature after the first one of the same series is deposited on top ofthe immediately preceding signature which was discharged onto saidcollating station.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein said series of signatures aredischarged onto said collating station at respective points along astraight line which extends transversely to the direction of said paths,said signatures being advanced along said straight line at a speed suchthat each successive signature after the first one is deposited on topof the immediately preceding signature which was discharged onto saidcollating station.

9. A machine for advancing a series of different sheet signatures whichare to be collated as the pages of a book as defined herein, saidmachine comprising: a folding means for completely folding a series ofdifferent signatures, a conveyor means for receiving said signaturesfrom said folding means and being adapted to advance same intime-delayed sequence relative to one another for delivering signaturesof one and the same series onto a movable collating station successivelyin time-delayed sequence relative to one another, whereby they arrive atthe collating station successively at respective longitudinally spacedapart points along the path of travel thereof, and means for correlatingthe delivering of signatures from said conveyor means and onto saidcollating station to the advance of the signatures along the collatingstation independently of the action of the folding means.

10. The machine of claim 9, said conveyor means providing a plurality ofadjacent conveyor paths which extend from said folding means to acollating station, said conveyor means being adapted to receive a seriesof said signatures and to carry each one along a respective one of saidpaths in time-delayed sequence relative to each other.

11. The machine of claim 10, wherein said conveyor means is arranged tosimultaneously receive all said signatures of a series from said foldingmeans and to advance each signature of a series along said conveyorpaths at a different speed relative to each other.

12. The machine of claim 10, wherein said conveyor means comprises aplurality of conveyor belt means arranged adjacent to each other, drivemeans to drive said belt means at different rates of speed relative toeach other.

13. A machine for collating in assembled form the pages of a book, asdefined herein, said machine comprising: a folding means for completelyfolding a series of different signatures, a first conveyor means foradvancing signatures of said series in successive delayed-time sequencerelative to each other along respective adjacent paths from said foldingmeans to a second conveyor means, said second conveyor means beingcontinuously movable transversely across the direction of said paths,said first and second conveyor means being correlated with each otherwhereby respective reference points on said first conveyor meanscorresponding to successive signatures carried thereon arrive at saidsecond conveyor means at successive intervals corresponding in time tothe time interval re quired for advancing said second conveyor means thedistance between successive ones of said paths.

14. The machine of claim 13, said second conveyor means comprising arelatively narrow belt adapted to fit along the fold line of a signaturewith the signature resting thereon in the form of an inverted-V, andincluding an opening means at the end of said first conveyor means forpartially unfolding the completely folded signatures as they aretransferred from the first to the second conveyor means.

15. The machine of claim 13, wherein said folding means is a bucklefolding machine adapted to receive flat sheets from a single stack ofsuch sheets, each sheet con taining thereon a plurality of differentsignatures, said folding means being adapted to fold each flat sheet andto cut it into a plurality of completely folded signatures, said firstconveyor means being adapted to advance the respective signatures tosaid second conveyor means with the folds in the signatures extendingparallel to the direction of movement of the second conveyor means,

16. The machine of claim 13, wherein said folding means comprises aplurality of buckle folding machines arranged parallel to each other,each said folding machine being adapted to receive a respectivesignature from a respective diiferent stack of such signatures and tocompletely buckle-fold said signature.

17. The machine of claim 13, including a sensing means for correlatingsaid folding means and said second conveyor means with each other, saidsensing means being arranged to detect the presence of a signature onsaid second conveyor means at a particular point along the travel ofsaid second conveyor means, said sensing means actuating said foldingmeans.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS US. Cl. X.R.

